Thematic map based route optimization

ABSTRACT

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core, at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to determine a route based at least partly on a thematic map database and a current location of the apparatus, present the determined route as a suggested route to a first user, and responsive to the first user approving the suggested route, initiate an activity session based on the suggested route.

FIELD

The present application relates to the field of device usability andsafety.

BACKGROUND

A user interface, UI, enables a user to interact with a device, such as,for example, a car, a smartphone, an automated banking device or anaircraft control system. Different user interfaces are appropriate fordifferent purposes, for example, where the user uses the device toperform actions that set persons at risk, the quality and quantity ofinformation presented to the user when interacting with the userinterface must be sufficient to enable use of the device safely, whilenot overloading the user with unnecessary information.

User interfaces may be based on presenting information to the user, andreceiving inputs from the user. Information may be presented using anoutput device such as a display, for example an organic light-emittingdiode, OLED, display. Inputs may be received from the user via variousinput devices, such as touchscreen displays, push buttons, microphonesarranged to capture the user's speech and/or levers the user can pull.

A traditional user interface of a wristwatch comprises a long and ashort arm, which rotate over a watch dial to indicate the time of day.Digital wrist watches may comprise, for example, a liquid crystaldisplay, LCD, type display indicating the time of day numerically.

A smart watch may comprise a touchscreen, such that the display portionof the touchscreen acts as an output device of the user interface andthe touch sensitive portion of the touchscreen acts as an input deviceof the user interface. Using a smart watch presents challenges, sinceuseful applications tend to require larger screens to present a usefulquantity of information using a font large enough, that users can readit without magnifying devices.

A personal device, such as a smart watch or other kind of personaldevice, may keep track of a route that the user traverses, for examplewhile jogging or performing another kind of activity. The route may becompiled in the personal device based, at least in part, on keepingtrack of a geographical location of the personal device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Somespecific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus comprising at least one processing core, at least onememory including computer program code, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code being configured to, with the at least oneprocessing core, cause the apparatus at least to determine a route basedat least partly on a thematic map database and a current location of theapparatus, present the determined route as a suggested route to a firstuser, and responsive to the first user approving the suggested route,initiate an activity session based on the suggested route.

Various embodiments of the first aspect may comprise at least onefeature from the following bulleted list:

-   -   the thematic map database comprises a heat map    -   the thematic map database associates at least one of the        following with geographic locations: past indications of        activity sessions, traffic density, crime density, avalanche        risk density, and past indications of photography    -   at least one of the past indications of activity sessions and        the past indications of photography have been made by a        plurality of users    -   the at least one memory and the computer program code are        configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause the        apparatus to determine the route based at least partly on at        least one of the following: a season of the year, a time of day,        user settings of the first user, history information of the        first user, elevation information and a location of the        apparatus    -   the user settings of the first user comprise settings relating        to at least one of the following: a desired energy consumption        of a physical exercise session, a desired cardiovascular effect        of the physical exercise session, a desired oxygen consumption        effect of the physical exercise session, a desired EPOC effect        of the physical exercise session, a desired recovery time length        of the physical exercise session, and an indication the user        wishes the route to be conveniently interruptable    -   the energy consumption comprises an increased energy consumption        in the user's body, the increase being due to the physical        exercise comprised in the physical exercise session    -   the apparatus is configured to determine at least two routes,        and to present at least a second determined route for the user        to choose from    -   the at least one memory and the computer program code are        configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause the        apparatus to determine the route at least partly by transmitting        a query to a thematic map database server, the query comprising        an indication of the current location of the apparatus    -   at least one memory and the computer program code are configured        to, with the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus        to display the suggested route on a display comprised in the        apparatus    -   the at least one memory and the computer program code are        configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause the        apparatus to determine the first user has approved the suggested        route based on determining, based at least partly on changes in        the location of the apparatus, that the user is following the        suggested route.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising determining a route based at least partly on athematic map database and a current location of an apparatus, presentingthe determined route as a suggested route to a first user, andresponsive to the first user approving the suggested route, initiatingan activity session based on the suggested route.

Various embodiments of the second aspect may comprise at least onefeature corresponding to a feature from the preceding bulleted list laidout in connection with the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus comprising means for determining a route based at leastpartly on a thematic map database and a current location of theapparatus, means for presenting the determined route as a suggestedroute to a first user, and means for initiating an activity sessionbased on the suggested route responsive to the first user approving thesuggested route.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set ofcomputer readable instructions that, when executed by at least oneprocessor, cause an apparatus to at least determine a route based atleast partly on a thematic map database and a current location of theapparatus, present the determined route as a suggested route to a firstuser, and responsive to the first user approving the suggested route,initiate an activity session based on the suggested route.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising receiving an indication of a location of a device,determining a route based at least partly on a thematic map database andthe location of the device, and transmitting to the device an indicationof the determined route. More than one route may be determined, andwhere more than one route is determined, an indication concerning atleast two routes may be transmitted to the device. The method accordingto the sixth aspect may be performed in a server, for example.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer program configured to cause a method in accordance with thesecond or fifth aspect to be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a system in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a system in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example user interface in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates a second example of a user interface in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at leastsome embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least someembodiments of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS

A thematic map database, for example a heat map, may be compiled tocover a geographic area. Users may engage in activity sessions while inthe geographic area. Activity types of such activity sessions mayinclude jogging, swimming and cycling, for example. When a user wishesto engage in an activity session of his own, his device may determine aroute for this activity session based at least in part on the thematicmap database. Determining the route may comprise designing the route,optionally based partly on user settings, based on where other usershave engaged in activity sessions of the same type in the past. Forexample, a jogging route may be determined based, at least partly, onindications where other users have jogged in the past. Routedetermination may be partly based on further considerations as well, aswill be laid out below.

FIG. 1A illustrates a system in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention. The system comprises device 110,which may comprise, for example, a smart watch, digital watch,smartphone, phablet device, tablet device, or another type of suitabledevice. Device 110 comprises a display, which may comprise a touchscreendisplay, for example. The display may be limited in size. Device 110 maybe powered, for example, by a rechargeable battery. An example of alimited-size display is a display worn on a wrist.

Device 110 may be communicatively coupled with a communications network.For example, in FIG. 1A device 110 is coupled, via wireless link 112,with base station 120. Base station 120 may comprise a cellular ornon-cellular base station, wherein a non-cellular base station may bereferred to as an access point. Examples of cellular technologiesinclude wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, and long termevolution, LTE, while examples of non-cellular technologies includewireless local area network, WLAN, and worldwide interoperability formicrowave access, WiMAX. Base station 120 may be coupled with networknode 130 via connection 123. Connection 123 may be a wire-lineconnection, for example. Network node 130 may comprise, for example, acontroller or gateway device. Network node 130 may interface, viaconnection 134, with network 140, which may comprise, for example, theInternet or a corporate network. Network 140 may be coupled with furthernetworks via connection 141. In some embodiments, device 110 is notconfigured to couple with base station 120.

Device 110 may be configured to receive, from satellite constellation150, satellite positioning information via satellite link 151. Thesatellite constellation may comprise, for example the global positioningsystem, GPS, or the Galileo constellation. Satellite constellation 150may comprise more than one satellite, although only one satellite isillustrated in FIG. 1A for the same of clarity. Likewise, receiving thepositioning information over satellite link 151 may comprise receivingdata from more than one satellite.

Alternatively or additionally to receiving data from a satelliteconstellation, device 110 may obtain positioning information byinteracting with a network in which base station 120 is comprised. Forexample, cellular networks may employ various ways to position a device,such as trilateration, multilateration or positioning based on anidentity of a base station with which attachment is possible or ongoing.Likewise a non-cellular base station, or access point, may know its ownlocation and provide it to device 110, enabling device 110 to positionitself within communication range of this access point.

Device 110 may be configured to obtain a current time from satelliteconstellation 150, base station 120 or by requesting it from a user, forexample. Once device 110 has the current time and an estimate of itslocation, device 110 may consult a look-up table, for example, todetermine a time remaining until sunset or sunrise, for example. Device110 may likewise gain knowledge of the time of year.

Device 110 may be configured to provide an activity session. An activitysession may be associated with an activity type. Examples of activitytypes include rowing, paddling, cycling, jogging, walking, hunting andparagliding. In a simplest form, an activity session may comprise device110 displaying a map of the surroundings, and a route on the map thatrelates to the activity session. Device 110 may be configured todisplay, on the route, an indication where along the route the user iscurrently located, enabling the user to see the place along the routewhere his jog, for example, is at the moment progressing.

An activity session in device 110 may enhance a utility a user canobtain from the activity, for example, where the activity involvesmovement outdoors, the activity session may provide a recording of theactivity session. An activity session in device 110 may, in someembodiments, provide the user with contextual information during theactivity session. Such contextual information may comprise, for example,locally relevant weather information, received via base station 120, forexample. Such contextual information may comprise at least one of thefollowing: a rain warning, a temperature warning, an indication of timeremaining before sunset, an indication of a nearby service that isrelevant to the activity, a security warning, an indication of nearbyusers and an indication of a nearby location where several other usershave taken photographs. Where the contextual information comprises asecurity warning, the warning may comprise a security route, determinedin a way that enables the user to avoid danger. For example, in case ofa chemical leak, the security route may comprise a route that leadsindoors or to public transport. Device 110 may determine a securityroute, or device 110 may receive the security route, at least in part,from a network. The security route may be determined using existingroads, pathways and other transit routes that are known to the entitydetermining the security route. Transit routes may be known from apublic mapping service, for example.

A recording may comprise information on at least one of the following: aroute taken during the activity session, a metabolic rate or metaboliceffect of the activity session, a time the activity session lasted, aquantity of energy consumed during the activity session, a soundrecording obtained during the activity session and an elevation mapalong the length of the route taken during the activity session. A routemay be determined based on positioning information, for example.Metabolic effect and consumed energy may be determined, at least partly,based on information concerning the user that device 110 has access to.A recording may be stored in device 110, an auxiliary device, or in aserver or data cloud storage service. A recording stored in a server orcloud may be encrypted prior to transmission to the server or cloud, toprotect privacy of the user.

An activity session may have access to a backhaul communications link toprovide indications relating to the ongoing activity. For example,search and rescue services may be given access to information on joggersin a certain area of a forest, to enable their rescue if a chemicalleak, for example, makes the forest unsafe for humans. In someembodiments, routes relating to activity sessions are provided to acloud service for storage when the activity sessions start, to enablesearching for missing persons along the route the persons were planningto take.

The user may initiate an activity session by interacting with a userinterface of device 110, for example. Where device 110 has s small formfactor, the user interface may be implemented over a limited userinteraction capability, such as, for example, a small screen, smalltouchscreen, and/or limited number of push buttons. A limited userinteraction capability may make it arduous for the user to performcomplicated interactions with device 110, which makes it less likely theuser will choose to interact with device 110. Therefore, it is ofinterest to simplify the interaction between device 110 and the user, tomake it easier for the user to complete the interaction, and thus morelikely the user will perform the interaction.

Device 110 may provide to the thematic map database an indicationrelating to the activity session, to enhance the thematic map databasefurther. Such indications may be anonymized prior to sending to thedatabase, both to protect the user's privacy and/or to comply with locallegislation. Such indications may comprise, for example, information ona determined route and a corresponding activity type.

In general, a thematic map database may associate at least one form ofdata with a geographic location. For example, the thematic map databasemay associate past indications of activity sessions with geographiclocations, for example to enable mapping areas where activity sessionsof a given activity type have been performed. Areas may be mapped as tothe intensity, or frequency, of past indications of activity session andtype. Thus a first area of a lake may be associated with frequentrowing, and another area of the same lake with less frequent, but stillnon-zero, rowing. Such a frequency may be referred to as an intensity,and the thematic map database may, in general, associate activity typeintensities with locations. Alternatively to intensities, the thematicmap database may simply associate, whether an activity session of agiven activity type has in the past been performed in a geographiclocation. Additionally or alternatively, a traffic density may beassociated with the geographic locations. Traffic density may comprisepedestrian or vehicular traffic density, for example. Walking or joggingmay be less pleasant, or less healthy, in areas with a high vehiculartraffic density due to exhaust fumes, wherefore a route relating to anactivity session with such type may be determined in a way that avoidssuch high-traffic density areas. Likewise, additionally oralternatively, crime density may be mapped, and employed in routedetermination to avoid high-crime areas. Avalanche risk density,obtained from meteorological services, may similarly be used to routeski activity sessions in safe areas. In some embodiments, places wheremany users have taken photographs may be used in routing, such thatroutes are determined to visit frequently photographed locations, sincesuch locations are likely to be beautiful and inspiring.

In some embodiments, the user may have indicated in user settings thathe wishes to engage in a certain type of activity session, wherein suchindications may be taken into account when determining the route for theactivity session. The settings may be taken into account, for example,by designing the route so that performing the activity session along theroute causes an increase in energy consumption in the user that isapproximately in line with what the user has requested in the settings.Alternatively or additionally, a cardiovascular effect of the activitysession may be tuned to be in line with a user setting by designing theroute in a suitable way. Likewise the user may specify a desired effecton oxygen consumption, EPOC effect and/or a recovery time length afterthe activity session. EPOC refers to excess post-exercise oxygenconsumption, sometimes known colloquially as afterburn.

The route may be determined in such a way as to be interruptable. Forexample, where the activity comprises cycling, the route may come closeto the starting and ending location close to a midpoint of the route, toenable the user to cut the route short. The user may specify in usersettings he wishes to engage in an interruptable route, orinterruptability may be a default setting that is attempted to complywith, where possible.

A level of physical exertion, in terms of energy consumption, oxygenconsumption, cardiovascular effect, EPOC or recovery time length, theroute causes in the user may be modified by determining elevationchanges along the route. Where the user wishes a light activity session,the route may be determined as relatively flat, and where the userwishes for a strenuous activity session, the route may be determined ina way that it has more elevation changes. Using the thematic mapdatabase in connection with elevation data in this sense may comprise,for example, determining the route based on elevation changes to matchthe desired strenuousness, in an area which the thematic map databaseindicates that activity sessions of a corresponding type have beenconducted in the past. In general, the user settings may be employed indetermining the route after a suitable area for the route has beenidentifier using the thematic map database.

A time of year and/or a time of day may be employed in either thethematic map database or in the determining of the route. For example,the thematic map database may comprise data collected at different timesof year, for example a same location may be associated with frequentjogging in summertime and frequent skiing during the winter months.Thus, the database may return a jogging route in the location in casethe query is made in the summer, and the database may return a skiingroute in the location in case the query is made in the winter.Alternatively or in addition, device 110 may select activity typesconsistent with the time of year, or time of day, from the set ofactivity types returned from the database when determining the predicteduser activity type. Device 110 may perform this task in embodimentswhere the database doesn't collect statistics separately according totime of year or day, for example. As a specific example, local residentsmay consider a certain location as safe during the day but unsafe afterdark. In such a situation, a user requesting a jogging route could berouted to this location if the request is made in the daytime, butrouted elsewhere if the request is made after dark.

In general, the thematic map database may be comprised in a server orcloud device, or it may be downloaded, at least in part, to device 110or an auxiliary device, for offline use. An auxiliary device isdescribed below in connection with FIG. 1B. While described hereinprimarily as a route determination method performed by device 110, invarious embodiments of the invention the route determination may takeplace in another device, such as the auxiliary device or a cloudcomputing device, for example. The user may have an account in a cloudcomputing service, where his information may be stored and he mayrequest for a route to be determined and furnished to his device, suchas, for example, device 110.

Responsive to the user approving, implicitly or explicitly, a suggestedroute, an activity session based on the approved suggested route may beinitiated.

More than one route may be determined, such that at least one of thedetermined routes is presented to the user as a suggested route. Forexample, two routes may be determined that match requirements defined bythe user, and these two routes may then be presented as suggestedroutes, with information concerning each route presented to the user aswell. For example, energy consumption, estimated time to completionand/or length of a route may be presented to assist the user in making aselection. Energy consumption, estimated time to completion and/or othersuitable information may be determined, at least partly, on theelevation information.

Information may be presented also, or alternatively, concerning segmentsof any suggested route, to enable the user to construct his route frominterconnected segments.

In some embodiments, the user needn't explicitly select a suggestedroute, rather, the device may deduce from the way positioninginformation changes, which route the user is following. As a response,any other suggested routes may be removed from the display to reduceclutter. In case the user deviates from the route, the device may noticethis from the positioning information, and responsively determine analternative route for the user, which may again be displayed. Thusmovement of the user may cause, via the positioning information, anapproval of a suggested route and/or a new determination of a newsuggested route in case of deviation from a previously approved route.Such a new suggested route may be determined from the current locationof the device to the same end point as the originally approved route.Such an end point may comprise the start point of the route, or,alternatively, another point input by the user. Remaining time, energyconsumption and/or other information may be presented concerning the newsuggested route.

FIG. 1B illustrates a system in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention. Like numbering denotes likestructure as in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B embodiments comprise an auxiliarydevice 110 x.

Device 110 may be communicatively coupled, for example communicativelypaired, with an auxiliary device 110 x. The communicative coupling, orpairing, is illustrated in FIG. 1A as interface 111, which may bewireless, as illustrated, or wire-line, depending on the embodiment.Auxiliary device 110 x may comprise a smartphone, tablet computer orother computing device, for example. Auxiliary device 110 x may comprisea device that the owner of device 110 uses to consume media, communicateor interact with applications. Auxiliary device 110 x may be furnishedwith a larger display screen than device 110, which may make auxiliarydevice 110 x preferable to the user when a complex interaction with anapplication is needed, as a larger screen enables a more detailedrendering of interaction options. In some embodiments, such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 1A, auxiliary device 110 x is absent.

In some embodiments, where auxiliary device 100 x is present, device 110is configured to use connectivity capability of auxiliary device 110 x.For example, device 110 may access a network via auxiliary device 110 x.In these embodiments, device 110 need not be furnished with connectivitytoward base station 120, for example, since device 110 may accessnetwork resources via interface 111 and a connection auxiliary device110 x has with base station 120. Such a connection is illustrated inFIG. 1B as connection 112 x. For example, device 110 may comprise asmart watch and auxiliary device 110 x may comprise a smartphone, whichmay have connectivity to cellular and/or non-cellular data networks.Likewise, in some embodiments device 110 may receive satellitepositioning information, or positioning information derived therefrom,via auxiliary device 110 x where device 110 lacks a satellitepositioning receiver of its own. A satellite connection of auxiliarydevice 151 x is illustrated in FIG. 1B as connection 151X.

In some embodiments, device 110 may have some connectivity and beconfigured to use both that and connectivity provided by auxiliarydevice 110 x. For example, device 110 may comprise a satellite receiverenabling device 110 to obtain satellite positioning information directlyfrom satellite constellation 150. Device 110 may then obtain networkconnectivity to base station 120 via auxiliary device 110 x. Forexample, device 110 may transmit a query to the thematic map databasevia auxiliary device 110 x. In some embodiments, device 110 isconfigured to request, and responsively to receive, sensor informationfrom auxiliary device 110 x. Such sensor information may compriseacceleration sensor information, for example. In general, processing,such as route determination and/or communication processing, may bedistributed in a suitable way between device 110, auxiliary device 110 xand/or a cloud computing service.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example user interface in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present invention. The user interface maybe comprised in device 110 of FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B, for example. Display200 is configured to provide a user interface display to the user.Display area 210 provides an application level display to the user. Inapplication level display 210 is comprised map 220, which may display,for example, terrain and/or elevation information. In the illustratedexample, a hill is displayed in the map 220.

A start point 230 is illustrated in the user interface, as is a route240, which is indicated with a dashed line. In this example, the routemay be traversed twice to obtain the physical exercise effect the userwants. The route proceeds along a relatively constant elevation aroundthe hill, and when traversed twice provides an opportunity to interruptthe activity session halfway through, as the user passes start point230. To interrupt the session, the user can simply stop at start point230 instead of beginning a second lap along the route. In this examplethe area of map 220 may be indicated in the thematic map database asbeing associated with past activity sessions of a corresponding, orindeed same, activity type as the session the user selects. The routemay be determined, in part, based on mapping information obtained from amapping service, such as a proprietary service, HERE maps or Googlemaps, for example. Elevation information may be obtained from the same,or similar, service.

FIG. 2B illustrates a second example of a user interface in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the present invention. Like numberingdenotes like elements as in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2B, a route planning viewis presented in application level display area 210. The route planningview displays a route segment network which comprises segment 250 a,segment 250 b, segment 250 c, segment 250 d, segment 250 e, and segment250 f. The user can complete a closed route from and to start point 230via various combinatorial options. For example, a first option comprisessegments 250 a, 250 b, 250 c and 250 d. For example, a second optioncomprises segments 250 a, 250 b, 250 c, in that order, followed bysegments 250 e and 250 a, in that order. The segments may be obtainedbased at least partly on a local map and/or a thematic map database, forexample.

The user may be presented with information concerning route options, forexample for the first option, an estimated energy consumption associatedwith an activity session along the route defined by the first option,and likewise for the second option. The user may, explicitly orimplicitly, select one of the presented options, and along the routedeviate therefrom to use a different set of route segments. For example,a user setting on along the first option, may decide to shorten theactivity session by taking segments 250 e and 250 d back to the startpoint 230. Alternatively, the user may decide to lengthen the session bytaking, in the first option, segment 250 f instead of segment 250 b.

In some embodiments, information is presented separately concerningroute segments, to enable the user to design a route with greaterprecision. For example, an energy consumption associated with segment250 a, when used as a route segment in an activity session of a giventype, may be presented. Likewise, other physiological effects, such asEPOC or oxygen consumption, may be presented in addition to, oralternatively to, the energy consumption.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at leastsome embodiments of the present invention. Illustrated is device 300,which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such asdevice 110 of FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. Device 330 may alternatively oradditionally correspond to auxiliary device 110 x of FIG. 1B. Comprisedin device 300 is processor 310, which may comprise, for example, asingle- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processorcomprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises morethan one processing core. Processor 310 may comprise more than oneprocessor. A processing core may comprise, for example, a Cortex-A8processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Steamroller processingcore produced by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. Processor 310 maycomprise at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and/or Intel Atom processor.Processor 310 may comprise at least one application-specific integratedcircuit, ASIC. Processor 310 may comprise at least onefield-programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 310 may be means forperforming method steps in device 300. Processor 310 may be configured,at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

Device 300 may comprise memory 320. Memory 320 may compriserandom-access memory and/or permanent memory. Memory 320 may comprise atleast one RAM chip. Memory 320 may comprise solid-state, magnetic,optical and/or holographic memory, for example. Memory 320 may be atleast in part accessible to processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least inpart comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be means for storinginformation. Memory 320 may comprise computer instructions thatprocessor 310 is configured to execute. When computer instructionsconfigured to cause processor 310 to perform certain actions are storedin memory 320, and device 300 overall is configured to run under thedirection of processor 310 using computer instructions from memory 320,processor 310 and/or its at least one processing core may be consideredto be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 320 may be atleast in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least inpart external to device 300 but accessible to device 300.

Device 300 may comprise a transmitter 330. Device 300 may comprise areceiver 340. Transmitter 330 and receiver 340 may be configured totransmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with atleast one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 330 maycomprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 340 may comprise more thanone receiver. Transmitter 330 and/or receiver 340 may be configured tooperate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM,wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, long term evolution, LTE,IS-95, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and/or worldwideinteroperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

Device 300 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver350. NFC transceiver 350 may support at least one NFC technology, suchas NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies.

Device 300 may comprise user interface, UI, 360. UI 360 may comprise atleast one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arrangedto signal to a user by causing device 300 to vibrate, a speaker and amicrophone. A user may be able to operate device 300 via UI 360, forexample to request for a route-based activity session and/or to placevoice calls, where applicable, for example.

Device 300 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module370. User identity module 370 may comprise, for example, a subscriberidentity module, SIM, card installable in device 300. A user identitymodule 370 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a userof device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise cryptographicinformation usable to verify the identity of a user of device 300 and/orto facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of theuser of device 300 for communication effected via device 300.

Processor 310 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to outputinformation from processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device300, to other devices comprised in device 300. Such a transmitter maycomprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, outputinformation via at least one electrical lead to memory 320 for storagetherein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise aparallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 310 may comprise a receiverarranged to receive information in processor 310, via electrical leadsinternal to device 300, from other devices comprised in device 300. Sucha receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example,receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 340for processing in processor 310. Alternatively to a serial bus, thereceiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

Device 300 may comprise further devices not illustrated in FIG. 3. Forexample, where device 300 comprises a smartphone, it may comprise atleast one digital camera. Some devices 300 may comprise a back-facingcamera and a front-facing camera, wherein the back-facing camera may beintended for digital photography and the front-facing camera for videotelephony. Device 300 may comprise a fingerprint sensor arranged toauthenticate, at least in part, a user of device 300. In someembodiments, device 300 lacks at least one device described above. Forexample, some devices 300 may lack a NFC transceiver 350 and/or useridentity module 370.

Processor 310, memory 320, transmitter 330, receiver 340, NFCtransceiver 350, UI 360 and/or user identity module 370 may beinterconnected by electrical leads internal to device 300 in a multitudeof different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices maybe separately connected to a master bus internal to device 300, to allowfor the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled personwill appreciate, this is only one example and depending on theembodiment various ways of interconnecting at least two of theaforementioned devices may be selected without departing from the scopeof the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least someembodiments of the invention. On the vertical axes are disposed, fromleft to right, device 110 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, server 4AA and furtherusers 4BB. In general further users 4BB comprise a set of users otherthan the user of device 110, although the user of device 110 may in somecases be comprised in the set of further users 4BB.

In collective phase 410, which may take place over a period of time, theperiod of time preceding the other phases of the figure possibly by aseveral months or more, further users 4BB provide to server 4AAindications of their locations and activity types that are selected,implicitly or explicitly, in those locations. For example, theseindications may relate to activity types of activity sessions thefurther users are engaged in, as well as corresponding locations,enabling server 4AA to associate the activity types with thecorresponding sessions by constructing a thematic map database.

In phase 420, server 4AA may construct or update a thematic map databasebased on the indications received in phase 410, and/or indicationsotherwise obtained in server 4AA. The thematic map database may comprisea heat map, for example. The thematic map database associates activitytypes with locations, enabling determination of statistical intensitiesfor activity types as a function of location. In some embodiments, thethematic map database also comprises at least some route information,such as a set of outdoor activity routes that are available in a certaincity.

In phase 430, device 110 queries the database by transmitting a query tothe server, the query comprising an implicit or explicit indication of alocation of device 110. Responsively, in phase 440, server 4AA transmitsback to device 110 a set of activity types that are associated with thelocation, area and/or surroundings of device 110.

Phase 450 comprises determining a route, based at least partially on theset of activity types received in phase 440, and presenting the route tothe user as a suggested route. Determining the route has been describedabove.

Optional phase 460 comprises transmitting to server 4AA an indication ofan activity type the user selects, which may be, but need not be, thesuggested activity type. The message of phase 460 may also comprise anindication of the current location of device 110.

Alternatively to the phases described above, device 110 may request inphase 430 for server 4AA to determine the route, such that device 110 inphase 430 provides its current location and the activity type the routeis to involve. Server 4AA may then responsively determine the routebased at least partly on the thematic map and the information in therequest of phase 430. In these embodiments, the route is informed todevice 110 in phase 440.

As a yet further alternative, device 110 may in phase 430 query forareas that are associated in the thematic map database with an activitytype, the query of phase 430 comprising an indication of the activitytype. The areas, once informed to device 110 in phase 440, then enabledevice 110 to determine the route in a way that the route traverses anarea that is associated with the correct activity type.

FIG. 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustratedmethod may be performed in device 110, for example, or in a controldevice configured to control the functioning of device 110, whenimplanted therein, for example.

Phase 510 comprises determining a predicted user activity type based atleast partly on a thematic map database and a current location of anapparatus. Phase 520 comprises presenting, by the apparatus, thepredicted user activity type as a suggested activity type to a firstuser. Finally, phase 530 comprises, responsive to the first userapproving the suggested activity type, initiating an activity session ofthe suggested activity type

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosedare not limited to the particular structures, process steps, ormaterials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof aswould be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. Itshould also be understood that terminology employed herein is used forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting.

Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or anembodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a termsuch as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical valueis also disclosed.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based ontheir presentation in a common group without indications to thecontrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the presentinvention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for thevarious components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments,examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de factoequivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate andautonomous representations of the present invention.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided, such asexamples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can bepracticed without one or more of the specific details, or with othermethods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of thepresent invention in one or more particular applications, it will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be madewithout the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing fromthe principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is notintended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims setforth below.

The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document asopen limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of alsoun-recited features. The features recited in depending claims aremutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, thatis, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude aplurality.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrialapplication in enhancing device usability and/or personal safety.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 110 Device 110x Auxiliary device 120 Base station130 Network node 140 Network 150 Satellite constellation 200 Display 210System level display 220 Map 230 Start point 240 Route 310-370 Elementsof FIG. 3 410-460 Phases of the signalling illustrated in FIG. 4 510-530Phases of the method of FIG. 5

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising at least oneprocessing core, at least one memory including computer program code,the at least one memory and the computer program code being configuredto, with the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at leastto: determine a route based at least partly on a thematic map database,and a current location of the apparatus, wherein the thematic mapdatabase associates activity type intensities with locations, whereinthe route is further determined based on at least one of the followingcontents of the thematic map database: a season of the year, indicationsof past photography, avalanche risk density, traffic density and crimedensity, wherein the route is determined to be interruptible in that theroute comes close to its start point at a point along the route; presentthe determined route as a suggested route to a first user, andresponsive to the first user approving the suggested route, initiate anactivity session based on the suggested route.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the thematic map database comprises a heatmap.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus isconfigured to present the determined route to the first user in terms ofsegments, such that the apparatus is configured to enable the user tomodify segments the route comprises to adjust a physiological effect ofthe route, each segment being presented with an associated user energyconsumption.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processing core, cause the apparatus to determine the routebased at least partly on at least one of the following: a time of day,user settings of the first user, history information of the first user,elevation information and a location of the apparatus.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the user settings of the first usercomprise settings relating to at least one of the following: a desiredenergy consumption of a physical exercise session; a desiredcardiovascular effect of the physical exercise session; a desired oxygenconsumption effect of the physical exercise session; a desired EPOCeffect of the physical exercise session; a desired recovery time lengthof the physical exercise session, and an indication the user wishes theroute to be conveniently interruptable.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the energy consumption comprises an increased energyconsumption in the user's body, the increase being due to the physicalexercise comprised in the physical exercise session.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to determineat least two routes, and to present at least a second determined routefor the user to choose from.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code areconfigured to, with the at least one processing core, cause theapparatus to determine the route at least partly by transmitting a queryto a thematic map database server, the query comprising an indication ofthe current location of the apparatus.
 9. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codeare configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause theapparatus to display the suggested route on a display comprised in theapparatus.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processing core, cause the apparatus to determine the firstuser has approved the suggested route based on determining, based atleast partly on changes in the location of the apparatus, that the useris following the suggested route.
 11. A method comprising: determining aroute based at least partly on a thematic map database and a currentlocation of an apparatus, wherein the thematic map database associatesactivity type intensities with locations, wherein the route is furtherdetermined based on at least one of the following contents of thethematic map database: a season of the year, indications of pastphotography, avalanche risk density, traffic density and crime density,wherein the route is determined to be interruptible in that the routecomes close to its start point at a point along the route; presentingthe determined route as a suggested route to a first user, andresponsive to the first user approving the suggested route, initiatingan activity session based on the suggested route.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the thematic map database comprises aheat map.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the methodfurther comprises presenting the determined route to the first user interms of segments, such that the method enables the user to modifysegments the route comprises to adjust a physiological effect of theroute, each segment being presented with an associated user energyconsumption.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the route isdetermined based at least partly on at least one of the following: atime of day, user settings of the first user, history information of thefirst user, elevation information and a location of the apparatus. 15.The method according to claim 14, wherein the user settings of the firstuser comprise settings relating to at least one of the following: adesired energy consumption of a physical exercise session; a desiredcardiovascular effect of the physical exercise session; a desired oxygenconsumption effect of the physical exercise session; a desired EPOCeffect of the physical exercise session; a desired recovery time lengthof the physical exercise session, and an indication the user wishes theroute to be conveniently interruptable.
 16. The method according toclaim 15, wherein the energy consumption comprises an increased energyconsumption in the user's body, the increase being due to the physicalexercise comprised in the physical exercise session.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 11, comprising determining at least two routes, andpresenting at least a second determined route for the user to choosefrom.
 18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having storedthereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed byat least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least: determine aroute based at least partly on a thematic map database and a currentlocation of the apparatus, wherein the thematic map database associatesactivity type intensities with locations, wherein the route is furtherdetermined based on at least one of the following contents of thethematic map database: a season of the year, indications of pastphotography, avalanche risk density, traffic density and crime density,wherein the route is determined to be interruptible in that the routecomes close to its start point at a point along the route; present thedetermined route as a suggested route to a first user, and responsive tothe first user approving the suggested route, initiate an activitysession based on the suggested route.